Cover having a pressure neutralizing tab

ABSTRACT

A cover for sealing and unsealing a container. The cover has a first surface adapted to be removably adhered to the container to seal an interior of the container. The cover also has a second surface opposite the first surface. The first and second surfaces define a thickness between the first and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces further define an aperture extending through the first and second surfaces. The cover further has a first tab protruding from the second surface. The first tab is configured to move from a first position sealing the aperture to a second position unsealing the aperture. The aperture permits fluid communication between the interior and an external environment. The cover additionally has a second tab spaced from the first tab. The second tab is adapted to be grasped by a user to remove the cover from the container.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention generally relates to a cover for a container and, more specifically, to a cover having a tab for neutralizing pressure between an interior of a container and an external environment.

2. Description of Related Art

Containers for storing articles are well known in the art. Many such containers include sealing features for sealing an interior of the container away from an external environment to prevent contents from being removed inadvertently or contaminants entering into the interior of the container. The sealing features may include pressure sealing features. In some instances, the pressure sealing features are used to preserve a quality of the contents in the interior. One such example includes a food storage container, which uses pressure sealing features to preserve freshness of food stored in the food storage container. Pressure sealed containers prevent the exchange of matter between the interior of the containers and the external environment. Pressure differences between the interior of the container and the external environment can be affected by changes in elevation, changes in temperature, manufacturing processes and many other factors.

SUMMARY

This disclosure is directed to a cover for sealing and unsealing a container. The cover comprises a first surface adapted to be removably adhered to a container to seal an interior of the container. The cover also comprises a second surface opposite the first surface. The first and second surfaces define a thickness between the first and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces further define an aperture extending through the first and second surfaces. The cover further comprises a first tab protruding from the second surface. The first tab is configured to move from a first position sealing the aperture to a second position unsealing the aperture. The aperture permits fluid communication between the interior and an external environment. The cover additionally comprises a second tab spaced from the first tab. The second tab is adapted to be grasped by a user to remove the cover from the container.

This disclosure is also directed to a container comprising a base having a bottom and a continuous sidewall. The bottom and continuous sidewall define an interior. The continuous sidewall has a sealing flange spaced from the bottom. The container also comprises a cover. The cover comprises a first surface adapted to be removably adhered to the sealing flange to seal the interior of the base. The cover also comprises a second surface opposite the first surface. The first and second surfaces define a thickness between the first and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces further define an aperture extending through the first and second surfaces. The cover further comprises a first tab protruding from the second surface. The first tab is configured to move from a first position sealing the aperture to a second position unsealing the aperture. The aperture permits fluid communication between the interior and an external environment. The cover additionally comprises a second tab spaced from the first tab. The second tab is adapted to be grasped by a user to remove the cover from the sealing flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container with a cover sealing an interior of a base and a tab sealing an aperture.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the container with the cover sealing the interior of the base and the tab unsealing the aperture.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the container with the cover unsealing the interior of the base and the tab unsealing the aperture.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the container with the cover being entirely separated from the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout several views, aspects of a container 10 are provided. In particular, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate an embodiment of the container 10.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the container 10 is suitable for containing an edible substance. The container 10 includes a cover 22 and a base 12.

The base 12 has a bottom 14 and a continuous sidewall 16 defining an interior 18. In the illustrated embodiments, the bottom 14 is substantially flat. In alternative embodiments, the bottom 14 may have contours or edges such that the bottom 14 is not flat. In one embodiment, the continuous sidewall 16 is circular. In other embodiments, the continuous sidewall 16 is a non-circular shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the continuous sidewall 16 has a sealing flange 20 being spaced from the bottom 14. The sealing flange 20 may have a surface substantially parallel to the bottom 14, as shown, or the surface of the sealing flange 20 may be non-parallel to the bottom 14. The sealing flange 20 may be continuous.

The base 12 may be made of any suitable material and may be made by any suitable process for forming a base 12 with the described characteristics. The base 12 may be formed of polymeric material. More specifically, the polymeric material may be a thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In other embodiments, the base 12 is formed of another polymeric material, such as plastic. In still other embodiments, the base 12 is formed of a material different from a polymeric material. The base 12 may be manufactured by injection molding processes commonly known in the art. In alternative embodiments, the base 12 is manufactured using another manufacturing process.

The cover 22 has a first surface 24 adapted to be removably adhered to the sealing flange 20 at a cover sealing portion 26 to seal the interior 18. An adhesive may be applied to either or both the sealing flange 20 or cover sealing portion 26. The cover sealing portion 26 may overlap the sealing flange 20 to create a seal. Alternatively, the cover sealing portion 26 may be melt-bonded to the sealing flange 20 to removably adhere the cover 22 to the base 12. The extent of the overlap of the cover sealing portion 26 to the sealing flange 20 may be any amount necessary for sealing the interior 18. The cover 22 also has a second surface 28 opposite the first surface 24 with the first and second surfaces 24, 28 defining a thickness therebetween and an aperture 30 extending through the first and second surfaces 24, 28 for permitting fluid communication between the interior 18 and an external environment. In one embodiment, the aperture 30 may be one of plurality of apertures defined by the first and second surfaces 24, 28. Each of the plurality of apertures permit fluid communication between the interior 18 and the external environment.

The cover 22 may be made of any suitable material and may be made by any suitable process for forming a cover 22 with the described characteristics. The cover 22 is formed of a polymeric material, more specifically hydrophilic or hydrophobic polymers. These polymers may be used singly or in combination with each other. The polymers may be used in variable concentrations and ratio to each other when in a mixture of two or several polymers. Non-limiting examples of suitable polymers comprises cellulose and cellulose derivatives. In other embodiments, the cover 22 is formed of another polymeric material. In still other embodiments, the cover 22 is formed of a material different from a polymeric material. The cover 22 may be manufactured by using an extrusion process commonly known in the art. In other embodiments, the cover 22 is manufacturing using another manufacturing process. The cover 22 may be clear or translucent. Further, information may be printed on the cover 22, such as product labelling, nutrition facts, date of manufacture, etc.

The cover 22 includes a first tab 32 protruding from the second surface 28, and being configured to move from a first position 34 to a second position 36. In the first position 34, the first tab 32 seals the aperture 30 such that fluid communication between the interior 18 and the external environment is prevented. In the second position 36, the first tab 32 unseals the aperture 30 such that fluid communication between the interior 18 and the external environment is permitted. In one embodiment, the first tab 32 is integral with the cover 22 such that the first tab 32 is extruded with the cover 22 as one piece. In embodiments where the aperture 30 is a plurality of apertures, each of the plurality of apertures are sealed by the first tab 32 in the first position 34 and one or more are unsealed in the second position 36.

In one embodiment, the cover 22 is formed of first and second sheets of material attached to each other. The first sheet defines the first surface 24 removably adhered to the sealing flange 20. The second sheet is at least partially adhered to the first sheet and defines the second surface 28. The first sheet further defines the aperture 30 and the second sheet includes the first tab 32 sealing the aperture 30.

A portion of the of the first tab 32 distal to where the first tab 32 protrudes from the second surface 28 is removably coupled to the second surface 28 at a coupling region 38 to seal the aperture 30. In one embodiment, the distal portion of the first tab 32 is removably coupled to the second surface 28 at the coupling region 38 using an adhesive such that the first tab 32 is removably adhered to the second surface 28 to seal the aperture 30. In another embodiment, the distal portion of the first tab 32 is removably coupled to the second surface 28 at the coupling region 32, which has been weakened by a manufacturing process such as laser scoring. In other embodiments, the distal portion of the first tab 32 is removably coupled to the second surface 28 by melt-bonding the distal portion of the first tab 32 to the second surface 28. In further embodiments, the distal portion of the first tab 32 is removably coupled to the second surface 28 using a combination of one or more of the adhesive, the manufacturing process to weaken the coupling region, and melt-bonding.

The cover 22 further includes a second tab 40 spaced from the first tab 32. The second tab 40 is adapted to be grasped by the user to unseal the cover 22 from the sealing flange 20 and thus, the base 12. In one embodiment, the second tab 40 extends away from both the sealing flange 20 and the cover sealing portion 26 such that the second tab 40 may easily be grasped by the user. In other embodiments, the second tab 40 has another configuration relative to the base 12 to be easily grasped by the user. In embodiments where the cover 22 includes the first and second sheets, the first sheet has the second tab 40.

In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, a process for opening the container 10 is illustrated. The base 12 of the container 10 stores an edible substance. In FIG. 1, the first surface 24 of the cover 22 seals the sealing flange 20 at the cover sealing portion 26 and the first tab 32 seals the aperture 30 such that the interior 18 is at a first pressure and the external environment is at a second pressure. In the exemplary embodiment, the first pressure is greater than the second pressure.

In FIG. 2, the user unseals the aperture 30 by pulling on the first tab 32, permitting a pressure exchange between the interior and the external environment and neutralizing pressure differences between the first and second pressure. As the aperture 30 is small, the pressure exchange between the interior 18 and the external environment is allowed to occur without the edible substance behaving violently and spilling out of the container 10.

In FIG. 3, the user unseals the cover 22 from the base 12 by pulling on the second tab 40. As noted above, with the first tab 32 unsealing the aperture 30 and neutralizing the pressure differences between the interior 18 and the external environment, the second tab 40 can be grasped to open the container 10 without the edible substance behaving violently and leaking out.

In FIG. 4, the cover 22 is completely removed from the base 12. It is to be appreciated that the cover 22 need not be entirely removed from the base 12 for a user to access the interior 18. Instead, the cover 22 may be in any position unsealed from the sealing flange 20 of the base 12 for revealing the interior 18 to a user.

The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cover for sealing and unsealing a container comprising: a first surface adapted to be removably adhered to the container to seal an interior of the container; a second surface opposite said first surface, with said first and second surfaces defining a thickness therebetween and an aperture extending through said first and second surfaces; a first tab protruding from said second surface and being configured to move from a first position sealing said aperture to a second position unsealing said aperture to permit fluid communication between the interior and an external environment; and a second tab spaced from said first tab and adapted to be grasped by a user to remove said cover from the container.
 2. A cover as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a first sheet further defining said first surface and a second sheet at least partially adhered to said first sheet further defining said second surface.
 3. A cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first sheet further defines said aperture and includes said second tab and said second sheet includes said first tab.
 4. A cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tab is integrally formed with said second surface.
 5. A cover as set forth in claim 1 formed of a polymeric material.
 6. A cover as set forth in claim 5, wherein said polymeric material comprises polypropylene.
 7. A cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of said first tab is removably adhered to said second surface when said first tab seals said aperture.
 8. A cover as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of said first tab is removably coupled to said second surface at a weakened region when said first tab seals said aperture.
 9. A container comprising: a base having a bottom and a continuous sidewall defining an interior, with said continuous sidewall having a sealing flange being spaced from said bottom; and a cover comprising, a first surface removably adhered to said sealing flange to seal said interior of said base, a second surface opposite said first surface with said first and second surfaces defining a thickness therebetween and an aperture extending therethrough, a first tab protruding from said second surface and removably sealing said aperture to selectively permit fluid communication between said interior and an external environment, and a second tab spaced from said first tab and adapted to be grasped by a user to remove said cover from said sealing flange.
 10. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cover further comprises a first sheet further defining said first surface and a second sheet at least partially adhered to said first sheet further defining said second surface.
 11. A container as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first sheet further defines said aperture and includes said second tab and said second sheet includes said first tab.
 12. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein said first tab is integrally formed with said second surface.
 13. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cover is formed of a first polymeric material and said base is formed of a second polymeric material.
 14. A container as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first polymeric material is identical to said second polymeric material.
 15. A container as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first polymeric material comprises polypropylene.
 16. A container as set forth in claim 13, wherein said second polymeric material comprises a plastic material.
 17. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein a portion of said first tab is removably adhered to said second surface when said first tab seals said aperture.
 18. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein a portion of said first tab is removably coupled to said second surface at a weakened region when said first tab seals said aperture.
 19. A container as set forth in claim 9, wherein said interior is at a first pressure when said first tab is in said first position and a second pressure different from said first pressure when said first tab is in said second position. 